u/Delicious_Book_2392

Is it possible that emotions we have in relation to fictional characters (and maybe fictional elements beyond characters) are definitively either one or both:

1. About them themselves
2. About somebody in real life that we experience as being towards the fictional character because they represent the real person? If so, is it because parts may “sneak around” protectors stopping those feelings because the protectors don’t “recognize the ‘threat’ in the fictional character”?

My guess is it’s both—-that there’s always a complex blend of them that varies over time.

I ask because my sibling passed away but I seem to have parts blocking the grief as I don’t feel anything about it consciously. However, tldr, I know for certain that there’s grief and I’m wondering if the genuine grief I’ve experienced rarely that’s been towards fictional characters has potentially involved “parts piggybacking off of the fictional characters” to let some of the grief through.

Tysm for reading! Don’t worry, ik this is Reddit and won’t blindly accept all I hear